In the late spring of 2024, a tragedy unfolded in Augusta, Georgia, ending the life of 45-year-old Lashonda 'Shonda' Wilkerson. On Tuesday, May 21st, Wilkerson was found on Druid Park Avenue, having been fatally shot. The Richmond County Coroner's Office pronounced her dead at the scene at 1:50 p.m., confirming the case as a homicide. Wilkerson, a resident of nearby Hephzibah, was a beloved certified medical assistant at Piedmont Hospital, remembered by her colleagues as a compassionate and
dedicated caregiver.
The investigation into Wilkerson's death quickly led authorities to a suspect, 45-year-old Michael Brooks of Augusta. A short time after the discovery of Wilkerson's body, deputies located Brooks's vehicle at Pendleton King Park, a mere five-minute drive from the initial crime scene. Inside the vehicle, they found Brooks, who had sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. He was pronounced dead at 2:45 p.m.
The incident was determined to be a murder-suicide, and autopsies were scheduled for both Wilkerson and Brooks to officially determine the causes of death. While the investigation was ongoing, law enforcement did not publicly release a motive for the tragic events. The community was left to mourn the loss of Wilkerson, a woman described as a beacon of light who brought warmth and kindness to those she encountered. Services were held to honor her memory, with a celebration of life and burial taking place in early June.
